Pol Gen Vichien back in the driver's seat

Pol General Vichien Potphosri has been officially appointed acting national police chief to replace Pol General Patcharawat Wongsuwan, who has been assigned to perform official duties in the South.

Vichien said he had acknowledged the order of his appointment from the Secretariat of the Prime Minister, signed on Tuesday.

The order also said from August 12, Patcharawat would be in charge of overseeing security in the restive South and ensuring safety an upcoming Asean meeting.

The newly appointed acting national police chief vowed to ensure justice in the annual police reshuffle during the Police Commission meeting today.

The highly anticipated item on the agenda is on whether the appointment of 152 police generals will be reviewed after the Police Commission gave them the nod. The appointments are due to take effect on Sunday after being published in the Royal Gazette on Saturday.

Vichien said he would attend the meeting as it discusses the reshuffle of police officers from deputy commander to non-commissioner.

His next mission, he said, would be to call together high-ranking police from Deputy National Police Chiefs to commanders from all divisions across the country to streamline police operations and increase efficiency.

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan agreed to Vichien's appointment as acting national police chief, according to General Noppadol Intapanya, the Defence Minister's secretary.

He said Prawit would continue to support the government by not quitting his post even though his brother Patcharawat had been assigned to work in the South.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva denied allegations of interfering in the annual police reshuffle, saying he had never tampered with individual appointments and only wanted make sure there were no legal violations.

He said the reshuffle was linked to the new structure of the Royal Thai Police, and his involvement at policy level was to ensure it was done in accordance with the law.

"While sitting as chairman of the Police Commission, twice I saw violation of the laws and put a stop to it,'' he said. He had instructed other political office holders not to interfere in the reshuffle of individual police.

Democrat Party Songkhla MP Sirichok Sopa, a close aide to Abhisit, has continued to expose allegations that police positions were being traded for personal gain.

He had information he was ready to provide to Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban to consider the reshuffle list is approved.

Sirichok said accusations of politicians interfering in the reshuffle were made by those who had something to lose.